Murder Charge Can Be Filed For Killing Outside Downtown Hartford Club

October 25, 2013|By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

HARTFORD — A judge on Friday gave prosecutors permission to pursue a murder charge against Angel Morales, a 25-year-old New Haven man accused of shooting and killing a man after a dispute at a downtown Hartford night club.

Hartford Superior Court Judge Joan K. Alexander heard an abbreviated version of the state's case against Morales and found there was enough evidence for the case to proceed. Such preliminary hearings are necessary in cases where a defendant faces the possibilty of life in prison.

Witnesses, including the dead man's brother, described the scene as it unfolded during the early morning hours of Aug. 30.

Jose Delgado testified that he got into a dispute over a spilled drink with a friend of Morales inside Up or On the Rocks at 50 Union Place. Bouncers in the club quickly separated the groups and then threw out Morales and his friends. A short time later Jose Delgado and his brother Miguel left the club. Outside the dispute began anew.

The group moved toward parking lots on Church Street. They continued to argue and then there was a challenge to fight. Women with each group urged the young men to simply walk away, but they refused.

At one point a friend of Morales pulled a handgun from his waistband and smashed Jose Delgado in the head. As blood poured from his head, Jose Delgado started swinging at his attacker, connected and knocked him out. The gun went flying, according to testimony.

Morales and Miguel Delgado wrestled for the gun and Morales came up with it.

Miguel Delgado stood and backed away from Morales, said another witness, Lizeyda Montanez. At least 6 feet were between the men, and the struggle was over, she said. "Miguel was basically backing up," she said.

Morales fired as he got up, she said, striking Delgado in the chest. He died over an hour later at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Prosecutor Robin Krawczyk asked the judge to find that there was probable cause to believe Morales committed the murder.

Morales' attorney, John Williams, said the evidence did not support such a finding.